railroad used to run all the way from damascus down through saudi arabia, but the only stretch operational today carries phosphates from the desert down to the aqaba port. the highway follows the line up from aqaba to amman, and we crossed the tracks when we drove to wadi rum. fortunately, lawrence never showed up […]

Aqaba was a little strange. lot’s of security, lots of trade, and situated at the union of egypt, israel, jordan, and saudi arabia. the “Arab flag” flies on a massive flagpole in the middle of the city, and wikipedia says that this flag has been used ever since lawrence invaded in WWI. took this photo […]